Penn Jillette (if you haven’t watched the duo of Penn and Teller debunk a broad spectrum of nonsense on their show “Bulls***!“, you should) says a few words about my column — or, more specifically, the headline of my column– “Is Dissent Still Patriotic?” (written after Election Day).
Do all Americans truly have a yearning to fundamentally “remake” our nation? There must be a subversive minority out there that still believes the United States — even with its imperfections and sporadic recessions — is, in context, still a wildly prosperous and free country worth preserving.
Some of you must still believe that politicians are meant to serve rather than be worshiped. And there must be someone out there who considers partisanship a healthy, organic reflection of our differences rather than something to be surrendered in the name of so- called unity — which is, after all, untenable, subjective and utterly counterproductive.
How about those who praised dissent for the past eight years?
Is there anyone who still believes the Constitution was created to ensure each citizen liberty and the ability to pursue happiness rather than a guarantee of happiness — and a retirement fund, health care, a job, an education, a house … ?
Yes, two important historical events transpired Tuesday: The first was the peaceful transfer of power from one freely elected politician to another (an uninterrupted streak we often take for granted). Then there was the first presidency of an African-American, which proves we can transcend our unsightly past.
After that, what we had was just another election. We conduct one every four years. For those of you not shouting hosannas, it might have occurred to you that we are suffering from a rampant sickness in American life that casts government as the author of your dreams and an Illinois politician the linchpin of your hopes.
Bush? Obama? Jillette finds that dissent can provoke very distinct reactions from his friends.
Warning for the faint of heart, Penn uses some salty language — which, incidentally, I also completely support.
(The embedded video isn’t working for some. Here is the link.)
28 comments ↓
[...] PENN JILLETTE: Is Dissent Still Patriotic? [...]
Obviously not, it appears dissent is only allowed when it is fithy, smelly, ugly college students and their leaders in their 60′s who have never found a bath that called out to them. I couldn’t be prouder to watch the masses of Americans get out and make their voices heard. This last grasp at taking 1/7th of our GDP and Govermentalizing it has awoken a sleeping giant and I am proud to be called an American OBTW #iamthemob!
“Dissent is the highest form of patriotism” is so last year. This year, snitching is the highest form of patriotism.
Can’t watch the clip if you are outside the USA.
I’ve tried and I’m denied access to this video on this site and youtube because I live in Canada. So, no, I guess dissent is no longer patriotic up here.
From what I’ve seen in youtube clips of the town hall meetings, dissent is more patriotic than ever, and way overdue.
Under Bush: Dissent is the highest form of patriotism
Under Obama: Dissent is the highest form or racism
A few years ago, many friends were willing to defend government intrusion via the Patriot Act as a necessary evil. Now they are opposed to government coming into their Doctor’s office.
Today many friends are willing to invite the government into their Doctor’s office, but a few years ago were opposed to government intrusion in their bedrooms and through the Patriot Act.
It appears we are all libertarians now.
“government intrusion via the Patriot Act”
Do you really think that keeping track of who calls whom internationally over a public utility is an equal intrusion to your privacy as telling you what drugs you can have, and what procedures you can have?
Have some perspective. What aspect of the patriot act do you think rises to the level of intrusion as a complete regulation of your interactions with your doctor?
Are you saying that they haven’t abused the Patriot Act? Because they have. They have officially used it for more than just what you describe. Don’t shoot the messenger.
The point is stopping intrusive government… regardless of your political persausion.
I’m not saying yes or no on anything.
Other than instrusive government
David,
I wrote a post on my blog and linked here. I agree, dissent is always patriotic as long a violence is NOT involved.
LOL @ Martin who said ““Dissent is the highest form of patriotism” is so last year. This year, snitching is the highest form of patriotism.”
“Snitching is the highest form of patriotism…” LOL Again! That’s the best comment ever, ever.
What is interesting regarding Penn’s comments is that he is seems surprised by the reaction to his assessment of Obama policies, which tells you more about Penn than Obama
Intrusion Cost/Benefit Analysis:
Patriot Act
Cost: Electronic Surveillance (Echelon, Warrantless taps) Financial Surveillance.
Benefit: No smoking crater in the middle of another American City.
Obamacare
Well, we’ll know cost&benefit once our legislators have actually read the various bills.
Let’s be reasonable, at no point did I say we need to get rid of the Patriot Act, but that doesn’t mean the FBI hasn’t abused it.
The point is by trying to have it both ways you are going to lose the support of alot of people on the other side.
When you start picking and chosing on how much freedom to cede to the federal government you are going to be bitten by the beast at some point.
We all have to cede some, but erring on the limited side is will provide more freedom in the long run.
[...] Jillette on “Is Dissent Still Patriotic?” — david harsanyi Jillette on “Is Dissent Still Patriotic?” — david harsanyi [...]
Kudos to Penn for sticking by his guns. There are so few people who can maintain perspective as the political winds shift. In my view, politicians (left and right) are equally responsible for our problems now as they all lie in bed together. This is why things didn’t magically become better when Obama took office, even though Democrats control the entire system.
And what does Teller say about this?
Here’s what teller says, ” … ”
(then he escapes from a straightjacket while submersed in a locked steel tank filled with water.)
“Let’s be reasonable, at no point did I say we need to get rid of the Patriot Act, but that doesn’t mean the FBI hasn’t abused it.”
All the more reason not to give the government unfettered access to your health records.
Yawn, I wish that I could have that 4 minutes and 16 seconds back!
Mcates
I have voted for every Libertarian presidential candidate from Ron Paul in 1988 to Bob Barr in 2008, but I’m with Moptop here. There may have, in fact, been massive “abuse” of the Patriot Act…. but beyond your ideological purity, who are the victims? Application of only a reasonable amount of “perspective” makes ludicrous a comparison between the government intrusion associated with Obamacare vs that of the 2004 FBI ease-dropping.
mcates: the PATRIOT Act has certainly been abused. In the pre-PATRIOT Act era, something else was abused (you surely don’t pretend that the FBI was sitting frustrated, eager to violate peoples’ rights but unable to do so, until the PATRIOT Act gave them the excuse).
Instead of pretending that there is some magic bullet against tyranny, some institutional reform which will prevent the revenooers from doing any but a principled job (after passing which we can all go back to cheating on our wives and scamming customers), how about if we admit that “The price of liberty is eternal vigilence” is not just an electioneering soundbite?
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